Single Exposed Zn (0002) Plane and Sustainable Zn-Oriented Growth Achieving Highly Reversible Zinc Metal Batteries.

To prevent dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution reaction, directional epitaxial growth of Zn2+ ions on Zn anode, especially along the lowest-surface-energy Zn (0002) plane, is pursued for highly reversible zinc metal batteries (ZMBs). However, designing single Zn (0002) exposed anodes for sustained uniaxial crystalline orientation of Zn electroplating faces challenges. Herein, we propose an anode engineering that utilizes a low lattice mismatch substrate and ordered Zn2+ migration channels to modify Zn anodes with single (0002) surface exposure and sustainable Zn-oriented growth, yielding highly reversible ZMBs. A vapor-deposited metal-organic framework Cu3(C6O6)2 film on brass foil shows low lattice mismatch (4.24%) with electrodeposited Zn anodes, enabling the exposure of a single (0002) plane. Furthermore, the low desolvation energy (-1.36 eV) between solvated Zn2+ ions and the ordered porous Cu3(C6O6)2 film guides sustainable Zn-oriented nucleation along the Zn (0002) surface. Consequently, the Zn||Zn cells with brass-Cu3(C6O6)2 substrate shows a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.55% after 4,000 cycles at 10 mA cm-2. This work provides a new window to design highly reversible Zn metal anode with a single-exposed Zn (0002) plane and sustainable oriented growth for emerging ZMBs.

Antibacterial Activity of Brass against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria following Repeated Exposure to Hydrogen Peroxide/Peracetic Acid and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds.

Copper-containing materials are attracting attention as self-disinfecting surfaces, suitable for helping healthcare settings in reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, the impact of repeated exposure to disinfectants frequently used in biocleaning protocols on their antibacterial activity remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed at evaluating the antibacterial efficiency of copper (positive control), a brass alloy (AB+®) and stainless steel (negative control) after repeated exposure to a quaternary ammonium compound and/or a mix of peracetic acid/hydrogen peroxide routinely used in healthcare settings. A panel of six antibiotic-resistant strains (clinical isolates) was selected for this assessment. After a short (5 min) exposure time, the copper and brass materials retained significantly better antibacterial efficiencies than stainless steel, regardless of the bacterial strain or disinfectant treatment considered. Moreover, post treatment with both disinfectant products, copper-containing materials still reached similar levels of antibacterial efficiency to those obtained before treatment. Antibiotic resistance mechanisms such as efflux pump overexpression did not impair the antibacterial efficiency of copper-containing materials, nor did the presence of one or several genes related to copper homeostasis/resistance. In light of these results, surfaces made out of copper and brass remain interesting tools in the fight against the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant strains that might cause healthcare-associated infections.

Acoustic Assessment of Microstructural Deformation Mechanisms on a Cold Rolled Cu30Zn Brass.

The relationship between acoustic parameters and the microstructure of a Cu30Zn brass plate subjected to plastic deformation was evaluated. The plate, previously annealed at 550 °C for 30 min, was cold rolled to reductions ranging from 10% to 70%. Linear ultrasonic measurements were performed on each of the nine specimens, corresponding to the nine different reductions, using the pulse-echo method to record the times of flight of longitudinal waves along the thickness axis. Subsequently, acoustic measurements were conducted to determine the nonlinear parameter ß through second harmonic generation. Microstructural analysis, carried out by X-ray diffraction, Vickers hardness testing, and optical microscopy, revealed an increase in deformation twins, reaching a maximum at 40% thickness reduction. At higher deformations, the microstructure showed the generation and proliferation of shear bands, coinciding with a decrease in the twinning structure and an increase in dislocation density. The longitudinal wave velocity exhibited a 0.9% decrease at 20% deformation, attributed to dislocations and initial twin formation, followed by a continuous increase up to 2% beyond this point, resulting from the combined effects of twinning and shear banding. The nonlinear parameter ß displayed a notable maximum, approximately one order of magnitude greater than its original value, at 40% deformation. This peak correlates with a roughly tenfold increase in twinning fault probability at the same deformation level.

Brass wire ligation for treatment of the ectopic eruption of the mandibular second molar: a case report.

Ectopic eruption of the second permanent molar is a tooth replacement disorder during adolescence. If not treated in time, it can cause hard tissue of the adjacent first molar resorption, early tooth loss, decreased chewing efficiency, and other serious malocclusions. Timely detection and treatment of ectopic eruption of the second permanent molar are of great significance in preventing malocclusions in adolescents and establishing normal occlusion relationships. However, current case reports on the ectopic eruption of the mandibular second molar are relatively rare and are mostly concentrated on surgical and orthodontic treatments, and long-term follow-up is lacking. This paper reports a case in which brass wire ligation was used to treat ectopic eruption of the mandibular second permanent molar, allowing the permanent teeth to erupt smoothly and establish a normal occlusion. The patient was observed for five years after the operation. The occlusion was stable, and the tooth root development, pulp vitality, and periodontal conditions were normal. This paper provides a clinical approach that is short in treatment duration, simple, and minimally invasive for young mandibular second permanent molars with moderate mesial inclination and partial eruption. This method is of importance in helping children establish physiological occlusion.

The Development of Novel Cu/GO Nano-Composite Coatings by Brush Plating with High Wear Resistance for Potential Brass Sliding Bearing Application.

Low friction and high wear resistance are critical properties for sliding bearings. In this research, advanced Cu/GO nanocomposite coatings have been developed by a brush plating method to improve the tribological performance of brass-based sliding bearings. A series of brush plating studies under voltages from 2 to 6 V with different GO concentrations (0.2-0.8 g/L) was conducted, and the coating microstructures were characterised by SEM, EDX, GDOES and XRD and the tribological behaviour of the Cu/GO composite coatings were evaluated using dry ball-on-plane tribological tests The experimental results have demonstrated that GO can be successfully introduced into the whole composite coating layer; the Cu/GO composite coatings can reduce the friction of brass and increase its wear resistance by two orders of magnitude, mainly due to the self-lubricating GO added into the coatings.

Facile and scalable preparation of superhydrophobic brass mesh for efficient and rapid separation of oil and water.

A facile method for preparing superhydrophobic brass mesh is proposed based on electrochemical etching and surface modification. The impact of processing time and the electric potential of the electrochemical etching were studied on the contact angle (CA) of the mesh. The samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrochemical etching process caused the decrement of wires' thickness and imposed roughness. Results showed more dissolution of zinc than copper under 3 V of the electric potential and the processing times of 3 and 6 min. The optimum condition of electrochemical etching was obtained under the electric voltage of 3 V for a processing time of 6 min, which led to a CA of 155.5 ± 3.2°. The thickness of the mesh wires decreased by 17.7% due to electrochemical etching in this sample. This sample also showed low adhesion for a water drop. The efficiency of oil/water separation was above 95 for the xylene and ethyl acetate in a batch system. The effect of the flow rate of the oil-water mixture on separation efficiency was also examined. The optimum flow rate was 0.8 ml s-1 with a high separation efficiency of 96.8% for xylene/oil separation.

Release of lead, copper, zinc from the initial corrosion of brass water meter in drinking water: Influences of solution composition and electrochemical characterization.

Corrosion of brass plumbing materials may lead to metal release and deteriorate the drinking water quality. In this study, the initial corrosion of brass coupon cut from commercially available water meter was investigated. High rates of Pb, Cu and Zn release from the brass coupon were found during the early stage of corrosion (0-5 d) due to general corrosion and galvanic corrosion. The corrosion current density (Icorr) increased and resistance (RF) decreased during this period indicating that severe corrosion had occurred. In a later stage (5-30 d), a decreased Icorr and an increased RF were observed due to the development of a denser layer of Pb and Cu corrosion products which regulated the release of soluble Pb and Cu. The release of Zn continued and no significant Zn precipitation was found. Overall, particulate Pb, particulate Cu and soluble Zn dominated in the metal release during the initial corrosion of brass. The release of Pb, Cu and Zn was enhanced by a lower pH. Free chlorine was found to slightly reduce the release of Pb but promote the release of Cu and Zn. The presence of Pb on the brass surfaces was found to alleviate the dezincification process. A conceptual model based on metal release profile and electrochemical characterization was proposed to describe the initial corrosion of brass in typical drinking water.

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for forecasting corrosion rates of automotive parts in biodiesel environment.

It is precarious to scrutinize the impacts of operational parameters on corrosion when choosing materials for the green diesel and automotive industries. This was the original study to showcase an optimization stratagem for abating corrosion rates (CRs) of automotive parts (APs) explicitly copper and brass in a biodiesel environment, adopting novel Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS).To model CRs, the RSM and ANFIS were utilized. The mechanical properties of APs were inspected, explicitly their hardness number and tensile strength, as well as their outward morphologies. The optimal CRs for copper and brass were 0.01656 mpy and 0.008189 mpy at a B 3.91 biodiesel/diesel blend and 240.9-h exposure. The ANFIS model had a higher coefficient of determination and lower values of root mean squared errors (RMSE), mean average error (MAE), and average absolute deviation (AAD) when compared to the RSM model; this authenticates the ANFIS model's superiority for predicting CRs of copper and brass. The tensile strength of brass was greater than that of copper, while the latter had a higher hardness number. The information, model, and correlations can assist APS in mitigating and slaving over for the corrosiveness of APs while utilizing green diesel.

Growth dynamic of biofilm-associated Naegleria fowleri in freshwater on various materials.

In industrial water systems, the occurrence of biofilm-associated pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) such as Naegleria fowleri is a potential hygienic problem, and factors associated with its occurrence remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of four cooling circuit materials on the growth of N. fowleri in a freshwater biofilm formed at 42°C and under a hydrodynamic shear rate of 17 s-1 (laminar flow): polyvinyl chloride, stainless steel, brass, and titanium. Colonization of the freshwater biofilms by N. fowleri was found to be effective on polyvinyl chloride, stainless steel, and titanium. For these three materials, the ratio of (bacterial prey)/(amoeba) was found to control the growth of N. fowleri. All materials taken together, a maximum specific growth rate of 0.18 ± 0.07 h-1 was associated with a generation time of ~4 h. In contrast, no significant colonization of N. fowleri was found on brass. Therefore, the contribution of copper is strongly suspected.

Hexane extract of Persea schiedeana Ness as green corrosion inhibitor for the brass immersed in 0.5 M HCl.

The hexane extract of Persea schiedeana Ness (PSN) was analyzed as corrosion inhibitor for the brass surface immersed in 0.5 M HCl. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and a gas chromatographic (GC) and mass spectrometric (MS) were used to identify the PSN extract's functional groups and compound constituents. The functional groups identified were CH 3 and CH 2 functional alkyl groups, C=O stretching vibration of aldehydes, ketones, and carbonyl groups. The GC/MS determined the presence of fatty acids in the PSN extract, where palmitic acid, oleic acid, and ethyl oleate were the major constituents. Electrochemical characterizations were conducted to observe the effect of PSN as corrosion inhibitor on the brass surface. The Rp and Rn calculated from EIS and ENA give the same behavior. Based on the OCP behavior, it was determined that the PSN works as a mix inhibitor, affecting both anodic and cathodic reactions. The corrosion current density (Icorr) suggests that the extract of PSN reduces the corrosion rate of the brass with efficiencies above 90% for all concentrations. The efficiency obtained for each PSN concentration was attributed to forming a corrosion scale of CuO and Cu 2 O , which reacted with the carboxyl group to form copper carboxylates on the metal surface.

Selective dissolution of zinc and lead from duplex ß-phase brasses in low and high conductivity water.

This study provides insights regarding the selective metal leaching of brass in various tap water conditions, which benefits water utilities to predict the potential of metal released from brass water meters. The long-term time-dependent selective metal dissolution of brass with various ß phase fractions have not previously been investigated. In this study, a 201-d immersion experiment was carried out in low and high conductivity tap water (LCTW and HCTW, respectively). Three commercialized brass samples in different ß phase fractions (ß = 51%, ß = 43%, ß = 39%), named brass 51, brass 43, and brass 39, respectively, were used. The results showed that brass 51 had the most negative corrosion potential (-0.17 V) and the lowest polarization resistance (8.5 kΩ) compared to brass 43 and brass 39 (-0.04 V and 10.1-14.7 kΩ, respectively) in LCTW. This trend was verified by the 201-d immersion experiment in which brass 51 exhibited the highest zinc leaching rate (21-30 µg L-1 cm-2 d-1), followed by brass 43 and brass 39 (16-23 µg L-1 cm-2 d-1) in both waters. The leaching amounts of lead and copper were extremely low compared to zinc. In LCTW, the uniform corrosion (UC) mechanism dominated from day 1 to day 120. Afterwards, UC was replaced by the galvanic corrosion (GC) mechanism, with the selective leaching coefficient of Zn over Cu (SZn/Cu) increasing from 10 to 25 to 40-80. In HCTW, however, the SZn/Cu reached 300-1000, and the transition of UC to GC occurred earlier on day 30 due to the rapid formation of the ZnO layer on the brass surface that hindered the ion attack.

Study on the Influence of Metal Substrates on Protective Performance of the Coating by EIS.

The degradation process of a red iron oxide epoxy coating on three kinds of metals under a periodic cycling exposure to 3.5 wt% NaCl solution (45 °C 12 h + 25 °C 12 h) was comparatively studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. The influence of the metal substrates (carbon steel, brass, and Al alloy) on the protection performance of the coating was analyzed using variations in the electrochemical and chemical parameters. The failure criteria of the coating were discussed. The results show that the coating on the three substrates presents different failure times, with the coating on steel presenting the shortest time and the coating on Al alloy the longest time. The characteristics of metal substrates and their corrosion products influence the coating failure behavior. The corrosion products with loose and hygroscopic properties of steel and brass have promoting effects on the diffusion of water through the coating. The passive film of the Al alloy substrate and the formation of salt film containing Cl- have corrosion-inhibiting effects on the substrate. Evaluation of the coating performance by |Z|0.01Hz should consider the characteristics of the metal substrates.

Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Porous Brass by Chemical Dealloying for Efficient Emulsion Separation.

By taking advantage of typical dealloying and subsequent aging methods, a novel homogeneous porous brass with a micro/nano hierarchical structure was prepared without any chemical modification. The treatment of commercial brass with hot concentrated HCl solution caused preferential etching of Zn from Cu62Zn38 alloy foil, leaving a microporous skeleton with an average tortuous channel size of 1.6 µm for liquid transfer. After storage in the atmosphere for 7 days, the wettability of the dealloyed brass changed from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic with a contact angle > 156° and sliding angle < 7°. The aging treatment enhanced the hydrophobicity of the brass by the formation of Cu2O on the surface. By virtue of the opposite wettability to water and oil, the aged brass separated surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions with separation efficiency of over 99.4% and permeate flux of about 851 L·m-2·h-1 even after recycling for 60 times. After 10 times of tape peeling or sandpaper abrasion, the aged brass maintained its superhydrophobicity, indicating its excellent mechanical stability. Moreover, the aged brass still retained its superhydrophobicity after exposure to high temperatures or corrosive solutions, displaying high resistance to extreme environments. The reason may be that the bicontinuous porous structure throughout the whole foil endows stable mechanical properties to tolerate extreme environments. This method should have a promising future in expanding the applications of alloys.

Enhancing EDM Machining Precision through Deep Cryogenically Treated Electrodes and ANN Modelling Approach.

The critical applications of difficult-to-machine Inconel 617 (IN617) compel the process to be accurate enough that the requirement of tight tolerances can be met. Electric discharge machining (EDM) is commonly engaged in its machining. However, the intrinsic issue of over/undercut in EDM complicates the achievement of accurately machined profiles. Therefore, the proficiency of deep cryogenically treated (DCT) copper (Cu) and brass electrodes under modified dielectrics has been thoroughly investigated to address the issue. A complete factorial design was implemented to machine a 300 µm deep impression on IN617. The machining ability of DCT electrodes averagely gave better dimensional accuracy as compared to non-DCT electrodes by 13.5% in various modified dielectric mediums. The performance of DCT brass is 29.7% better overall compared to the average value of overcut (OC) given by DCT electrodes. Among the non-treated (NT) electrodes, the performance of Cu stands out when employing a Kerosene-Span-20 modified dielectric. In comparison to Kerosene-Tween-80, the value of OC is 33.3% less if Kerosene-Span-20 is used as a dielectric against the aforementioned NT electrode. Finally, OC's nonlinear and complex phenomena are effectively modeled by an artificial neural network (ANN) with good prediction accuracy, thereby eliminating the need for experiments.

Surface Modification of Brass via Ultrashort Pulsed Direct Laser Interference Patterning and Its Effect on Bacteria-Substrate Interaction.

In recent decades, antibiotic resistance has become a crucial challenge for human health. One potential solution to this problem is the use of antibacterial surfaces, i.e., copper and copper alloys. This study investigates the antibacterial properties of brass that underwent topographic surface functionalization via ultrashort pulsed direct laser interference patterning. Periodic line-like patterns in the scale range of single bacterial cells were created on brass with a 37% zinc content to enhance the contact area for rod-shaped Escherichia coli (E. coli). Although the topography facilitates attachment of bacteria to the surface, reduced killing rates for E. coli are observed. In parallel, a high-resolution methodical approach was employed to explore the impact of laser-induced topographical and chemical modifications on the antibacterial properties. The findings reveal the underlying role of the chemical modification concerning the antimicrobial efficiency of the Cu-based alloy within the superficial layers of a few hundred nanometers. Overall, this study provides valuable insight into the effect of alloy composition on targeted laser processing for antimicrobial Cu-surfaces, which facilitates the thorough development and optimization of the process concerning antimicrobial applications.

Enhancing Wire-EDM Performance with Zinc-Coated Brass Wire Electrode and Ultrasonic Vibration.

This study aimed to investigate the performance of zinc-coated brass wire in wire-cut electrical discharge machining (EDM) using an ultrasonic-assisted wire on tungsten carbide. The research focused on the effect of the wire electrode material on the material removal rate, surface roughness, and discharge waveform. Experimental results demonstrated that using ultrasonic vibration improved the material removal rate and reduced surface roughness compared to conventional wire-EDM. Cross-sectional SEM of the white layer and discharge waveform were investigated to explain the phenomena of ultrasonic vibration in the wire-cut EDM process.

The genome sequence of the Burnished Brass, Diachrysia chrysitis (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Diachrysia chrysitis (the Burnished Brass; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 386 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.3 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 18,320 protein coding genes.

Zinc Evaporation from Brass Scraps in the Atmosphere of Inert Gas.

A description of the process of metal evaporation from liquid alloys at an atmospheric pressure has a practical value for both the smelting and remelting of their scraps. The quantities of volatile components that are eliminated in these processes depend on many factors of which the type of melting device, the method and conditions of the process performance, the alloy composition and the kind of applied atmosphere are of the greatest importance. In this paper, the results of the research on zinc evaporation from brass scraps containing 10.53 wt% Zn are presented. The experiments were conducted using the thermogravimetric method at 1080 ÷ 1240 °C in a helium atmosphere. In the research, the levels of zinc removal from copper ranged between 82% and 99%. The values of the overall mass transfer coefficient for zinc kZn, determined based on the experimental data, ranged from 4.74 to 8.46 × 10-5 ms-1. The kinetic analysis showed that the rate of the analysed process was determined by mass transfer in the gas phase.

Experimental Study on the Preparation of Ultra-Fine Brass Tube Electrodes by Ultrasonic Vibration.

In order to automatically process ultra-fine copper tube electrodes, this study proposes a new method of ultrasonic vibration processing of ultra-fine copper tube, analyzes its processing principle, designs a new set of experimental processing equipment and completes the processing of 1.206 mm inner diameter, 1.276 mm outer diameter with core brass tube. Not only can the copper tube be completed with core decoring, the surface of the processed brass tube electrode also has good integrity. The effect of each machining parameter on the surface roughness of the electrode after machining was investigated by a single-factor experiment and the optimal machining effect was achieved under the conditions of machining gap 0.1 mm, ultrasonic amplitude 0.186 mm, table feed speed 6 mm/min, tube rotation speed 1000 r/min and reciprocating machining two times. The surface roughness was reduced from 1.21 µm before machining to 0.11 µm, and the residual pits, scratches and oxide layer on the surface were completely removed, which greatly improved the surface quality of the brass tube electrode and prolonged its service life.

Comparing brass mesh to tissue equivalent bolus materials for volumetric modulated arc therapy chest wall irradiation.

PURPOSE: To compare the superficial dose when using brass mesh bolus (BMB), no bolus, or 3 mm tissue-equivalent bolus with a pseudo-flash volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) breast treatment planning technique. METHODS: Two different beam arrangements for right-sided irradiation and one beam arrangement for bilateral irradiation were planned on an inhomogeneous thorax phantom in accordance with our clinical practice for VMAT postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). Plans were optimized using pseudo-flash and representative critical organ optimization structures were used to shape the dose. Plans were delivered without bolus, with 3 mm tissue-equivalent bolus (TEB), or with one-layer BMB. Optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter (OSLD) and radiochromic film measurements were taken and analyzed to determine the superficial dose in each case and the relative enhancement from the no bolus delivery. RESULTS: Superficial dose measured with OSLDs was found to be 76.4 ± 4.5%, 103.0 ± 6.1%, and 98.1 ± 5.8% of prescription for no physical bolus (NB), TEB, and BMB, respectively. Superficial dose was observed to increase from lateral to medial points when measured with film. However, the relative increase in superficial dose from NB was consistent across the profile with an increase of 43 ± 2.1% and 34 ± 3.3% of prescription for TEB and BMB, respectively. The results are in good agreement with expectations from the literature and the experience with tangential radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Three millimeter TEB and one-layer BMB were shown to provide similar enhancement to the superficial dose compared to delivery without bolus. BMB, which does not significantly affect dose at depth and is more conformal to the patient surface, is an acceptable alternative to 3 mm TEB for chest wall PMRT patients treated with pseudo-flash PMRT.